BACKGROUND: We explored the prevalence of and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in the adult population of Shanghai (China) with and without dyslipidemia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey including 14 385 adults (aged 16 to 88 years) in Shanghai using a stratified, multistage cluster sampling approach.

RESULTS: Type 2 diabetes and hyperlipidemia were found in 1456 (10.1%) and 4583 (31.9%) subjects, respectively. Type 2 diabetes was more common in males (11.4%) than in females (9.2%, P<0.01), in the elderly (> or =65 years, 22.5%) than in younger (<55 years, <10%, P<0.01) individuals, and in urban (12.8%) than in rural populations (5.2%, P<0.01). Diabetes incidence was higher among patients with hyperlipidemia than in controls (16.9% vs. 7.0%, P<0.01; OR=2.72, 95% CI 2.44–3.03). Compared with controls, the risk for diabetes in subjects with isolated hypertriglyceridemia, isolated hypercholesterolemia, and mixed hyperlipidemia increased 1.75-fold (95% CI 1.53–1.99), 1.53-fold (95% CI 1.17–2.01), and 2.93-fold (95% CI 2.37–3.63), respectively. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2h-postprandial plasma glucose (2h-PG) increased with age in both sexes. The age- and sex-adjusted FPG and 2h-PG levels in hyperlipidemia were significantly higher than in controls (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in hyperlipidemia patients exists in Shanghai. Hyperlipidemia is associated with elevated blood glucose levels and therefore requires prompt intervention for prevention and treatment of diabetes in patients with dyslipidemia.

Keywords: Adolescent, Blood Glucose - metabolism, China - epidemiology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - etiology, Fasting - blood, Hypercholesterolemia - complications, Hyperlipidemias - complications, Hypertriglyceridemia - complications, Lipids - blood, Postprandial Period, Prevalence, Risk Factors, young adult